Alien Flight Student Program

On September 20, 2004, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that prohibits a flight school from providing flight training to a non United States citizen (alien) unless the student is first cleared by the Secretary of Homeland Security. To obtain clearance, the Alien Flight Student must provide certain personal information, along with two sets of fingerprints to the TSA. This rule is mandated by the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act of December 12, 2003.

National Air Transportation Association Compliance Services (NATACS) maintains an international network of Certified Fingerprint Technicians who have been collecting and submitting fingerprints to the TSA in accordance with the AFSP requirements since 2004.

IMPORTANT:

If an Alien Flight Student applicant submits fingerprints prior to paying for his/her training request with TSA, and prior to receiving the official Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) fingerprinting instructions directly from TSA, the fingerprints are NOT valid AND the associated training request(s) will be cancelled by TSA. Furthermore, the fingerprints will NOT be applied to any current or future training request. Both the applicant and the provider will receive an email notifying them that the fingerprints are NOT valid and the training request(s) is/are cancelled, as well as providing the steps needed to resolve the problem to complete processing through the AFSP.

Applicants have two fingerprint collection method options (if available, based on geographical capabilities):

By, or under the supervision of, a U.S. Federal, State or Local Law Enforcement Agency.

If the Alien Flight Student applicant chooses collection method option one (1), the applicant must enroll for fingerprint collection with NATACS in order to obtain a Fingerprint Control Form. To enroll in fingerprinting, the applicant must first locate a Fingerprint Technician using by clicking here. After selecting a location, the applicant should click the "AFSP Enrollment" icon. Once the enrollment is complete, the applicant will be able to download a Fingerprint Control Form. If the applicant is unable to download the Fingerprint Control Form, or needs further assistance, they can call the Customer Service Helpdesk at +1.703.842.5317. Fingerprints cannot be collected by the technician if an applicant does not obtain a Fingerprint Control Form.

NOTE: Every Alien Flight Student will need to have TWO (2) separate fingerprint cards/submissions processed by the collection agency. (See fingerprint instructions email: Instructions To Fingerprint Collector / Step 3). If two separate sets are not sent, delays in processing will occur until the Fingerprint Processing Center receives a second fingerprint submission. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that a minimum of two (2) fingerprints are submitted by the collection agency.

NOTE: Applicants whose prints are collected by a Law Enforcement Office (LEO) must ensure that the fingerprints are sent to:

The Alien Flight Student Program has an ongoing need for additional fingerprint locations, domestically and internationally. If you are interested in becoming a certified fingerprint technician, please visit our Fingerprint Technician Training page for more information.